Ronnie O’Sullivan sets all-time record with 153 at World Open | Snooker News

Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Ryan Day in the quarter-finals of the World Open in China, scoring 153 points and breaking Jamie Barnett’s World Snooker Tour record.

Ronnie O’Sullivan rewrites snooker history

Ronnie O’Sullivan achieved the highest score in professional snooker with 153 points at the World Open in China.

The 50-year-old achieved the feat after leaving his quarter-final opponent Ryan Day snookered at the start of the opening frame, with the Welshman’s escape attempt failing and handing the free ball to O’Sullivan.

This allowed the seven-time world champion to start the break from the green and then earn eight points before going into the red in the opening black.

O’Sullivan then rolled out 15 reds, accompanied by a further 13 blacks and two pinks to clear the colors for a record-breaking 153.

“There was a lot of buzz. I could have tried it and gotten another black, but I didn’t think anyone had ever scored more than 147 on TV, so I thought I’d be the first,” he said on the World Snooker Tour.

“I still feel a little rusty. I obviously haven’t played enough games or tournaments. That’s what everyone seems to be saying. I still want to shake off the rust, but it’s just a joke.”

“I’m sure it’s on top of that (along with other moments in his career). To get two 147s in one game was pretty cool. I wish I could have gotten paid more for it, but that’s it.”

O’Sullivan stormed into the semi-finals in China and his quick start paved the way to a resounding 5-0 victory.

“I’d like to send a huge shout out to everyone who has sent me messages and congratulated me on reaching No. 153,” O’Sullivan said in the X video.

“It was a great moment. I was really happy. Thank you to everyone who supported me.”

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O’Sullivan is seeking his first World Tour ranking victory since defeating Judd Trump 10-7 in the World Grand Prix final in January 2024.

Australian snooker player Neil Robertson, a former world champion, praised O’Sullivan. “The best of all time and always will be,” Robertson wrote on X. “To all snooker fans, I hope you will cherish the joy he brought to millions of people for many years to come.”

The former world number one, whose next tournament after this week’s World Open is April’s World Snooker Championship, had reached the quarter-finals with wins over Matthew Seltt and Shaun Murphy in China.

China’s Wu Yize defeated Mark Allen 5-1 to advance to the semi-finals, Trump faced Hossein Bafai and Thepchaiya Un Nu then faced Gary Wilson.

Jamie Barnett held the World Snooker Tour record in 2004 with 148 breaks in British Championship qualifying.

O’Sullivan already has a long record list

O’Sullivan adds new record to his vast collection

O’Sullivan is widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time.

He is tied with Stephen Hendry for the most world titles with seven.

The Essex cueman boasts the most major titles (23), most ranking honors (41) and most breaks (147), including the fastest time at the 1997 World Championships in just 5 minutes and 8 seconds.

O’Sullivan only played sporadically on the circuit in the later years of his career, but he ran two sub-147s in the semifinals of the Saudi Masters in August.

“That said, I still feel a little rusty. I obviously haven’t played enough games or tournaments,” he said in a joking comment. “That’s what everyone seems to be saying.”